Switch-throwing device.



J. MOLNA'R.

SWITCH THROWING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUIIB 30, 1911.

I 1 22,863; Paiaented Apr. 9, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

[NVEN TQR.

J. MOLNAR.

SWITCH THROWING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1911.

Patented Apr. 9,1912.

A TTORNE KS EDP] WITNESSES:

JOSEPH MOLNAR, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

SWITCH-THROWING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Application filed June 30, 1911. Serial No. 636,159.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MoLNAR, a subject of the King of Hungary,residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-ThrowingDevices, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a switch throwing device, designedfor-switches for street railways.

My invention aims to provide, first, a device that can be readilyinstalled upon the present type of street cars and in connec tion withthe present type of switch by simply changing two of therails adjacentto said switch; second, a switch throwing device that is positive in itsaction, free from injury by ordinary use, and easy to manipulate; third,a track equipment that is not susceptible to operation by vehicletraffic; fourth, a car equipment that occupies a comparatively smallplace and is inexpensive to manufacture. With this understanding of theprincipal objects of my invention, reference will now be had to the vdrawings, wherein like numerals denote corresponding parts throughoutthe several views; wherein Figure 1 is a plan of the track equipment;Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same,

showing a portion of a car above the same;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the car equipment; Fig. 4 is alongitudinal vertical sec tion of a portion of the same; Fig. 5 is afront elevation of part of the car equipment, and Fig. 6 is across-sectional view of a portionof the car equipment.

The reference numerals 1 and 2 denote ties or sleepers supporting rails3 and 4 and switch frogs 5 and 6, the latter having a movable switchtongue 7. Extending through the transverse openings 8 .in the frog 6 isa transverse rod 9 connected to the tongue 7 by. nuts 10. The ends ofthe rod 9 are pivotally connected by pins 11' to bell crank levers 12and 13, pivotally mounted by pins 14 upon the tie 2, located beneath theswitch frogs 5 and 6.

The bell crank lever 12 is connected by a coiled retractile spring 15 toa bracket 16, mounted upon the tie 1 adjacent to the tie 2, andpivotally connected to the bell crank lever 12 by a pin 17 is aconnecting rod 18. The connecting rod 18 is pivotally connected by a pin19 to an actuating member 20. This member is pivotally mounted upon theother tie 2, by a pin 21, and extends through an opening 22 providedtherefor in the enlarged portion 23 of a rail 4. The opening 22 is incommunication with a longitudinal groove 24 formed in the enlargement 23of a rail 4. The ends of the groove 24 gradually merge into the ordinarygroove of the tread of the rail 4.

The bell crank lever 13 is connected by a coiled retractile spring 25 toa bracket 26 upon the tie 1 adjacent to the tie 2 of the switch frogs.The bell crank lever 13 is connected by pin 27 to a connecting rod 28,and said rod is pivotally connected by a pin 29 to an actuating member30 located upon tie 2, supporting the member 20. The member 30 issimilar to the member 20 and extends into the rail 3, which is similarto the rail 4.

The car equipment comprises two depending brackets 31, carried by theplatform 32 of a car; these brackets, being positioned directly abovethe rails 3 and 4 of the track. Movably arranged in said brackets arerods 33, having the lower ends thereof provided with bearings 34 forrollers 35. Encircling the rods 33 are coiled retractile springs 36,having the upper convolutions thereof connected to said rods, and thelower convolutions thereof resting upon the brackets 31. The upper endsof the rods 33 have heads 37 provided with transverse pins 38. The upperends of the rods extend through openings 39 in the platform 32, and theheads 37 are located between guides 40, carried by housings 41 mountedupon the platform 32.

Journaled transversely of the housings 41 are rook shafts, and mountedupon each shaft within the upper part of the housing are cranks 43adapted to engage under the ends of the pin 38. The outer ends of therock shaft 42 have depending cranks 44. The cranks 44 are connected by astirrup 45,

and said stirrup is connected by a coiled retract-ile spring 46 to a.bracket 47 mounted upon the platform 32. Arranged upon the platform 32in front of each of the housings 4]. are bearings 48 and a post 49, andarranged in the bearings 48 is a rock shaft 50 provided. with cranks 51,connected to the cranks 44 by reach rods 52. The rock shaft 50 hasanother crank 53 connected by a link 54 to the end of a lever 55fulcrumed in the upper end of the post 49. The free end of the lever 55has a handle 56 adapted to be engaged by a catch or hook 57 of aconventional form, the catch or hook being carried by the post 49, andadapted to hold the handle end of the lever in a lowered position.

Assuming that a car is moving in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 1,and it is desired to pass on to the siding track which necessitates theopening of the switch tongue 7, the motorman or operator of the carreleases the lever 55 at the right hand side of the car; when the leveris released, the tension of the spring 46 is sufficient to rock theshaft 42 and lower the arms 43, therby releasing the head 37 of the rod33. The spring 36 immediately lowers the rod and places the wheel orroller 35 in the groove of the rail 3. As this wheel engages the contactmember 30, said member is moved, and through the medium of the elements28, 13, and 9, the switch tongue 8 is opened. Besides these elementsbeing actuated, the elements 12, 18, and 20 are shifted, the member 20extending into the groove of a rail 4, whereby the car equipment can beactuated at the left hand side of the car to restore the switch tongueto its normal position. The

springs 15 and 25 are employed and arranged to retain the members 20 andin adjusted position. After the car has passed on to the siding track,the lever 55 can be moved to raise the arms 43 and elevate the rod 33,said rod being retained in an elevated position by securing the lever 55to the post 4:9 by the catch 57 hat I claim is In a switch throwingdevice, a track equipment comprising a switch tongue, grooved rails,actuating members pivotally mounted adjacent to said rails and adaptedto extend in the grooves thereof, a rod connected to said switch tongue,spring held pivoted bell crank levers pivotally connected to said rodand adapted to be moved by said members, and a car equipment, includingrods adapted to be released to place the lower ends thereof in positionto engage said actuating members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH MOLNAR. Vitnesses:

SAMUEL \VENTZ, JOHN Lo'rrr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

